I’m currently using the Samsung Galaxy Camera for CES coverage… and it’s awesome. It takes incredible video, incredible pictures, and among other things includes 21X optical zoom. But for the consumer who wants a slightly more flexible photography experience that acts a bit more like your traditional DSLR, the Polaroid iM1835 might be your answer.

Running Android 4.1 Jellybean in a light and compact frame, the iM1835 is a great option for android enthusiasts who are either aspiring photographers are simply want a compact solution for more portable use. Designed with the novice in mind, the camera’s sensors are located in the lens as opposed to the main kit, preventing dust and other problematic “stuff” to scuff up your camera and therefore photo quality as the sensor isn’t “exposed to the elements”.

Coming in at only $349 in the 2nd quarter of this year, the Polaroid iM1835 becomes the Galaxy Camera’s first real competitor in the Android Camera market, and we hope to see this market heat up. Some additional specs to note:

Android 4.1 Jellybean

10-33mm optical zoom lens

3.5″ capacitive touchscreen

Auto blink detection

Auto face exposure

Pop-up flash

1080p HD video

Built-in HDMI out

Polaroid is also expecting two features for which I’m really excited: additional lenses available for sale such as telephoto lenses and an adapter so you can attach and use lenses from other popular companies such as Canon and Nikon.

We have yet to test the image and video quality of the Polaroid iM1835 but stay tuned- we’re hoping to get some samples in the next couple days.

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These cameras don’t act like DSLRs at all. A DSLR uses a mirror to reflect a through-the-lens image onto the viewfinder. The MILCs behave sort of halfway between a medium/large format camera (with it’s DIRECT through-the-lens view) and a rangefinder, like a Leica (compact body).

pint

Other hands-on-reviews are more like: “stupid concept, cheap build-quality, non-working camera app”. And considering other lately business-moves by polaroid, I fear that’s true.

Dave4321

I am pretty sure that this is re-badged Nikon J1 with Android added. Perhaps not though if the sensor is in the lens not the camera, but that might be the only real change. I have to imagine this will add extra cost to lenses if each lens has to have its own sensor.

InspectorGadget80

What a shitty camera couldn’t even play or open Angry Birds how disappointed. I prefer the GALAXY CAMERA

Marsg

i don’t known if having the sensor in the lens is genius or dumb, on one hand you don’t have to buy a new camera instead just a lens, but on the other hand the lens is probably crazy expensive , i guess depends on how much the lens cost.